TL/N : I will be changing Artificing Department to Production Department. My bad, guys.
‘I’m hungry…’
I walked along the nighttime path.
Even after Kaisel had dealt with the assassins, I couldn’t return immediately.
I had to wait until the Academy’s security mages arrived at the scene, and even after that, I was questioned.
By the time the questioning was over and I was escorted near the dormitory, I had completely missed dinner.
‘The cafeteria must be closed by now…’
If I passed through the Academy’s main gate and headed to the southern shopping district, there would still be restaurants open, but going all the way there at this hour felt like too much effort.
‘I’ll just grab something from the store.’
With that thought, I headed to the nearest store from the dormitory.
The store didn’t just sell snacks and drinks—it also had ready-to-eat meals.
“Welcome.”
As I stepped inside, the part-time worker greeted me in the same unenthusiastic voice as always.
I was about to head straight to the instant meal section when I noticed someone standing with arms crossed in the snack aisle.
“……?”
It was Charlotte from the upper class.
She was staring at the snack display with a conflicted expression.
“What are you doing?”
“Ah!”
When I spoke to her, Charlotte flinched and let out a small scream.
“E-Erio Valencia?”
“Yeah, Charlotte Strasbourg.”
Since she had scolded me last time for ignoring her greeting, I made sure to call her by name.
“What are you doing?”
“……”
“Are you trying to decide what to eat?”
At my question, Charlotte’s expression turned uncomfortable.
“I wanted to try something other than that corn snack from last time…”
“Wait, have you been eating only that corn snack this whole time?”
“……”
“Hm…”
Thinking it might be best to help, I picked out two suitable snacks from the shelf.
To be honest, I hadn’t known much about snacks before either. But after entering the Academy and hanging out with others, I had tried most of them at least once.
“This one’s a shrimp-flavored snack—it was pretty good. And these potato chips aren’t bad either. You could pick one of the—”
“I’ll take both.”
“Isn’t that too much? Oh, are you planning to eat them in your dorm later?”
“I don’t eat stuff like this in the dorm.”
“What?”
“I told you I’m not close with my roommate.”
“Ah…”
Yeah, it would be awkward to sit in a shared room with someone you weren’t close to, eating snacks alone.
“Then why are you buying two?”
“One’s for you.”
“What?”
“You helped me choose. This is my way of returning the favour.”
“……”
I remembered—she hated owing people anything.
“No, I—”
“Were you going to ask me to buy a drink too? I suppose I have no choice.”
Charlotte swiftly walked over to the drinks section and grabbed two grape juices.
“This is fine, right?”
“……”
She probably thought I had already eaten dinner with Kaisel.
I couldn’t exactly tell her I had been ambushed by assassins and missed my meal…
‘Oh well.’
It seemed like my dinner tonight would be snacks and juice.
Charlotte and I ended up eating at the same park as last time.
Once again, we sat on separate benches.
“Erio Valencia.”
“What?”
After we had eaten a bit, Charlotte spoke in a stiff voice.
“About your match with Helios today… it was really impressive.”
“You were watching?”
“Yeah, I came to my senses right before your match started.”
Charlotte had been unconscious from Senia’s attack.
“Even though my mind was still foggy, I could tell it was a high-level match.”
“……”
“You probably wouldn’t have lost as miserably as I did, even if you were up against Senia.”
“Hm…”
I would have struggled with Senia’s speed too.
The result would likely have been the same as Charlotte’s.
Though, like in her case, Senia would have been disqualified.
“Helios also fought better than I expected.”
“……”
“Honestly, I’m frustrated.”
Charlotte admitted her feelings outright.
Not hiding her negative emotions was both her strength and her weakness.
“But I’m not going to stay behind. I’ll catch up to you all.”
“To earn your parents’ recognition?”
“Yeah.”
“……”
Her determination was clear.
She had talent, and if she kept training in magic, she would undoubtedly reach a high level.
Though I had no idea what standards her parents had set for her.
“In the next practical evaluation, I’m going to win. Be ready.”
“Alright, I’ll remember that.”
“Hmph…”
Charlotte tossed her trash into the bin.
Unlike last time, she didn’t miss.
“Well, I’m heading back.”
“Oh, then I’ll go too.”
I had already finished eating, so there was no reason to stay.
I had been practicing wind magic around here at night, but now that the rookie tournament was over, there was no need.
“What?”
Charlotte looked surprisingly flustered.
“Wait, what are you saying?”
“What?”
“You were considerate last time, but now…”
“Considerate?”
What was she talking about?
“Are you saying you don’t care if people misunderstand?”
“……?”
“Why are you…”
For some reason, Charlotte’s face turned red.
“W-well, anyway, no. Come in ten minutes after me. Got it?”
“Hmm… okay.”
“I don’t get it…”
That’s my line.
Anyway, Charlotte left me behind and headed toward the dormitory, leaving me alone in the park.
‘It was a tiring day.’
Yawning, I reflected on everything that had happened.
I competed in the rookie tournament, had dinner plans with Uncle Kaisel, got ambushed, and ended up having snacks for dinner in the park with Charlotte.
‘At least the rookie match is over… I should be able to relax and read for a while.’
I still needed to get my certification to officially become a Ranger, but Kaisel would handle that.
As for dungeon exploration, I could do that on the weekend when I had free time…
‘Alright, then…’
I’d go back, read a book at leisure, and fall asleep.
With that thought, I walked toward the dormitory, feeling much lighter.
“This is absurd.”
Professor Hephaestus sighed as he looked at the wreckage that had been brought to the workshop.
“I did say it was just a test model, so they could push it to its limits… but I didn’t expect them to bring it back in this condition.”
“If you have complaints, take it up with the assassins.”
Professor Kaisel, arms crossed, responded coldly.
The prototype magic four-wheeled vehicle, painstakingly crafted by the Production Department, had been reduced to scrap metal… yet he showed no signs of remorse.
“I drove accident-free for over a month.”
“And then you got into one massive accident and totaled it.”
“Totaled?”
“This thing is beyond repair. It’s just scrap now.”
“Seems I overestimated the Production Department’s repair capabilities.”
“Then why don’t you fix it yourself?”
“If I had built it, I might. But fixing something you made is inefficient.”
“Tsk…”
Clicking his tongue, Hephaestus scratched his head as he examined the underside of the vehicle.
“It’s not just a flat tire. The magic engine connected to the chassis is severely damaged. There’s barely anything salvageable.”
“But I had deployed defensive magic. If it still ended up like this, doesn’t that mean there’s a problem with its durability?”
“You floored the accelerator while maintaining the defense spell, didn’t you? That caused a magical interference.”
“So it was a flaw after all.”
“Yeah, yeah, you’re right.”
Hephaestus sighed again.
“I’ll use this data to improve the next version.”
“You have it rough.”
“There’s a revised prototype in the storage room that was completed a few days ago. Just take that one today.”
“I’ll do that.”
“Oh, by the way.”
“What now?”
“I heard you were with your nephew. Was he alright?”
At the mention of Eriol, Kaisel replied in a flat voice.
“He’s fine.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Not a scratch on him. He walked away looking completely unfazed.”
“Hmm… the kid’s got nerves of steel.”
Hephaestus tilted his head in curiosity.
“I saw him in the rookie tournament today. Your nephew’s skills are impressive.”
“…”
“The other professors were all in an uproar. At the very least, every professor who attended today will remember the name Eriol Valencia.”
“So what?”
“If you’re not careful, the nephew you worked so hard to bring to the academy might get snatched away by other professors. You okay with that?”
At Hephaestus’s words, Kaisel remained expressionless as he answered.
“That doesn’t matter, Hephaestus.”
“Oh?”
“If he wants to choose a different specialization, then he can. That’s all there is to it.”
Kaisel spoke calmly.
“And if that happens, my connection with him will end there.”
“So that’s how you see it.”
Hephaestus stroked his chin and nodded.
“Then you wouldn’t mind if I take an interest in him.”
“…”
“I’m taking over the advanced class lectures next week, Kaisel.”
“I thought Professor Maia handled all the beginner lectures in the Production Department.”
“The scroll magic course is finished. Now that we’re moving into the actual ‘crafting’ lessons, it makes sense for me to step in.”
“You’re after Eriol, aren’t you?”
“That’s right. I want to see for myself if he has the talent I’m looking for.”
“Eriol’s spiritual origin is ‘Reading Comprehension.’ What you’re after is ‘Creation.’”
“I already know that.”
Creation was Hephaestus’s spiritual origin.
A talent specialized in bringing something new into existence.
“But I also know this—every magician is a creator in their own right.”
“…”
“In my view, even you are a creator, Kaisel.”
“If anything, I’d say I’m more of a destroyer.”
Kaisel’s spiritual root was ‘Dismantling.’
Among the 24 known spiritual roots, it was considered quite rare—a talent specialized in breaking things down.
“You create destruction.”
“That’s just wordplay.”
“Listen, Kaisel.”
Hephaest tapped his temple with his fingers.
“Magicians take the images in their minds and manifest them as magic in the real world. That, in itself, is a form of creation.”
“…”
“That’s why all magicians have the potential to be creators. In the Production Department… we simply go beyond creating temporary phenomena. We aim to leave behind tangible, lasting results.”
Tangible results.
That was what the Production Department pursued.
“I’ll say this with confidence. Creating something tangible is far more rewarding and enjoyable than creating fleeting effects.”
As he spoke, Hephaestus ran his fingers over the battered vehicle.
“I’m going to show your nephew the appeal of the Production Department.”
“…”
Kaisel remained silent.
Taking that as permission, Hephaestus’s voice filled with excitement.
“I’ll let Eriol experience it—the overwhelming satisfaction of seeing an idea from his mind take perfect shape in reality… that intoxicating thrill.”
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